This news report appeared in Russia Today and has sci-fi fans positively drooling. Russian and American scientists are looking at reviving the Soviet-era Buran space shuttle program to replace the retiring American space shuttle program.
The Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavor are to be retired in 2010; the Orion orbiter is not expected to get off the ground until at least 2014, and is already rumored to be on the Obama Administration's list of programs to be cut.
(Adjust your volume downward at the beginning of this report, then adjust it to your comfort level).
If they can modernize the Buran design with today's technology, it would solve a lot of issues and could get off the ground relatively quickly. Buran had a larger cargo capacity as it didn't have a need for it's own engines--the Energia booster rocket provided more than enough lift to launch it into space.
Since the original Buran was destroyed in a hangar collapse in 2002, they would have to restart the program from scratch.
This probably won't happen, but it's a fascinating scenario. I like the idea.
Showing posts with label nasa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nasa. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Friday, August 22, 2008
NASA Retirement of Space Shuttle Program May Not Happen: Political Trouble With Russia May Require Shuttle Fleet to Remain in Service
The way that the rhetoric has been flowing between Russia and the West, and Washington in particular, future joint space programs with the Russians may be in jeopardy, which may impact on NASA's retirement of the space shuttle fleet in 2010.
Hopefully this is a momentary glitch in U.S./Russian relations, but if some kind of "new" Cold War starts up again, and relations between the two countries go downhill on a long-term basis, it's difficult to see the Russian and American space agencies continuing to cooperate. It's amazing how much impact a small nation can have on the relations between two big ones.
NASA is currently set to retire the space shuttle in 2010, relying on the Russian Soyuz rockets to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) with supplies and personnel until the new Orion shuttle comes on-line in 2014 or 2015. But with today's crash of the Orion mock-up, it shows that NASA still has a ways to go. (Video here)
But what if the Russians decide not to allow Americans in their Soyuz capsules? NASA may have to extend the life of the shuttle program to keep America in space, which increases the risk every time the shuttle is put through a blast-off, and atmospheric re-entry. Those birds aren't getting any younger. And they haven't been able to fix the foam problem which doomed Columbia.
Hopefully the political problems being batted around between Washington and Moscow won't translate over to the scientific community as well. The international community has invested too much into the ISS and other programs for it to fall apart now.
Hopefully this is a momentary glitch in U.S./Russian relations, but if some kind of "new" Cold War starts up again, and relations between the two countries go downhill on a long-term basis, it's difficult to see the Russian and American space agencies continuing to cooperate. It's amazing how much impact a small nation can have on the relations between two big ones.
NASA is currently set to retire the space shuttle in 2010, relying on the Russian Soyuz rockets to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) with supplies and personnel until the new Orion shuttle comes on-line in 2014 or 2015. But with today's crash of the Orion mock-up, it shows that NASA still has a ways to go. (Video here)
But what if the Russians decide not to allow Americans in their Soyuz capsules? NASA may have to extend the life of the shuttle program to keep America in space, which increases the risk every time the shuttle is put through a blast-off, and atmospheric re-entry. Those birds aren't getting any younger. And they haven't been able to fix the foam problem which doomed Columbia.
Hopefully the political problems being batted around between Washington and Moscow won't translate over to the scientific community as well. The international community has invested too much into the ISS and other programs for it to fall apart now.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Shuttle Endeavour Damaged During Lift-Off; Ice Believed to Have Hit Shuttle's Belly
The space shuttle Endeavour was apparently damaged during lift-off from Cape Canaveral yesterday; video showed ice (or something) hitting Endeavor's belly, causing damage to some thermal heat tiles about 58 seconds into the launch.
NASA discovered some kind of gouge in one of the tiles, which is causing no small amount of concern at Mission Control. They may have to do a spacewalk to attempt a repair of the tile. It appears that there's just no way to prevent ice or foam from coming off the external fuel tank or booster rockets during the violent blast-off and atmospheric escape.
Since they can't get rid of this problem, it makes me wonder if every shuttle ever launched has sustained damage like this during take-off?
It took the destruction of the Columbia to make NASA realize how serious this problem is. It doesn't matter what they do to upgrade the rest of the shuttle; if it's pierced by foam, ice or other debris, and they don't detect it, the shuttle is doomed. The loss of the Columbia proved it.
It's a wonder we haven't lost more shuttles.
NASA discovered some kind of gouge in one of the tiles, which is causing no small amount of concern at Mission Control. They may have to do a spacewalk to attempt a repair of the tile. It appears that there's just no way to prevent ice or foam from coming off the external fuel tank or booster rockets during the violent blast-off and atmospheric escape.
Since they can't get rid of this problem, it makes me wonder if every shuttle ever launched has sustained damage like this during take-off?
It took the destruction of the Columbia to make NASA realize how serious this problem is. It doesn't matter what they do to upgrade the rest of the shuttle; if it's pierced by foam, ice or other debris, and they don't detect it, the shuttle is doomed. The loss of the Columbia proved it.
It's a wonder we haven't lost more shuttles.
Friday, July 27, 2007
NASA Reports Intoxicated Astronauts Allowed to Fly: What Kind of Lunatic Outfit Are They Running Down There?
NASA released a shocking report on intoxicated astronauts being allowed to go on shuttle missions, despite objections from fellow astronauts and flight controllers.
Oh, hell's bells!
The report mentions two incidents: one aboard a space shuttle, another aboard the International Space Station/Soyuz launch. It is unknown if these were isolated incidents, or an indicator of a major problem, and how long it's been going on.
The last thing we need is an intoxicated pilot or co-pilot at the control stick of a shuttle when a major malfunction occurs. Shuttle flights should be postponed if ANYONE in the crew shows up intoxicated, and the offending crew member removed from the mission.
If it's discovered that alcohol played ANY part in the destruction of either the Challenger or the Columbia, there will be hell to pay at NASA. There's no indication of anything like that occurring, but if it did...
What kind of operation are they running down there? Allowing drunk people to fly aboard one of the fastest and most powerful airborne non-nuclear bombs in existence? What were they thinking?
Oh, hell's bells!
The report mentions two incidents: one aboard a space shuttle, another aboard the International Space Station/Soyuz launch. It is unknown if these were isolated incidents, or an indicator of a major problem, and how long it's been going on.
The last thing we need is an intoxicated pilot or co-pilot at the control stick of a shuttle when a major malfunction occurs. Shuttle flights should be postponed if ANYONE in the crew shows up intoxicated, and the offending crew member removed from the mission.
If it's discovered that alcohol played ANY part in the destruction of either the Challenger or the Columbia, there will be hell to pay at NASA. There's no indication of anything like that occurring, but if it did...
What kind of operation are they running down there? Allowing drunk people to fly aboard one of the fastest and most powerful airborne non-nuclear bombs in existence? What were they thinking?
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
NASA Relieves Astronaut of Duty and Transfers Her Back to Navy in Wake of Love Triangle Scandal
Astronaut Lisa Nowak was relieved of her duties at NASA and transferred back to the U.S. Navy following her arrest in Florida.
She had been accused of taking part in a love triangle, which lead her to stalk and threaten the other woman. Authorities charged her with attempted kidnapping.
NASA has no policy on what to do in the event of a case like this, so they transferred her back to the Navy, which deals with this kind of stuff on a more regular basis. In effect, they canned her.
She will be facing charges in a civilian court and probably in a JAG court too.
Hopefully NASA will develop policies to deal with stuff like this; it probably will happen again. While they've dealt with the current situation, what happens when something like this happens between civilian workers, and not military ones?
She had been accused of taking part in a love triangle, which lead her to stalk and threaten the other woman. Authorities charged her with attempted kidnapping.
NASA has no policy on what to do in the event of a case like this, so they transferred her back to the Navy, which deals with this kind of stuff on a more regular basis. In effect, they canned her.
She will be facing charges in a civilian court and probably in a JAG court too.
Hopefully NASA will develop policies to deal with stuff like this; it probably will happen again. While they've dealt with the current situation, what happens when something like this happens between civilian workers, and not military ones?
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